Fake drugs: Ghana is safe – FDA

The Foods and Drugs Authority (FDA) has allayed fears Ghana is sitting on a time bomb over the influx of alleged fake drugs on the market.

Officials of the regulatory body have given the strongest assurance they are on the alert to protect the health of citizens and will continue to strengthen its monitoring mechanisms to flush the system of fake drugs.

Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on Monday, August 07, 2017, the acting CEO of the FDA Delese Mimi Darko stressed Ghanaians have no reason to fear over the efficacy of drugs on the shelves.

“Don’t shiver,” Mrs Darko asserted when a member of the committee expressed worry over drugs being imported into Ghana.

She boasted: “I can beat my chest and tell you that the regulatory body is one of the best on the continent.”

Meanwhile, the 2012 Auditor General’s report before the committee has disclosed that a lot of unregistered drugs were imported into Ghana without the prior approval of the FDA.

Among the unregistered medicines which got unto the Ghanaian market between 2012 and 2013 per the Auditor General’s report are popular malaria drug Coartem and dewormer Zentel.

Others include Tres-Orix, Procold, Lofnac-50 tablet, Atenolol, Lofnac Eyedrops and Quine Syrup among others.

In all a total of 72 unregistered drugs were imported during that period. The report also revealed that seven drugs were brought into the country “before the importers applied for permit from the FDA”.

The FDA CEO Mrs Darko assured her outfit is on top of issues to make sure citizens are safe. She said the FDA is setting up offices to block unapproved routes which are usually used by unscrupulous people to smuggle drugs into the country.